Journalism Review Archives | Page 110 of 159

Mamasapano, Two Years On: Painting a Murky Picture

PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE first floated the idea of reopening the investigation of the 2015 Mamasapano clash last October 2016, when he said it was “not really to prosecute people but just to know what happened”. At the time, he also wanted to know who took home the $5...

Misinterpreting Statements

JEERS TO the Manila Bulletin for misrepresenting the European Union’s (EU) planned shift of its funding focus in the Philippine health sector to programs addressing illegal drug use. The headline by the Bulletin’s January 17 banner story, “EU backs war on drugs,” suggested an about-face on the part...

Guns and Gaffes: Finding the Story in the Data

CHEERS TO The Philippine Star for catching a strange “coincidence” in the serial numbers of guns seized in separate encounters in Quezon City. Analyzing data obtained from police spot reports, public press releases and police blotters, the Star reported that the serial numbers of 29 out of 300...

Media Follow Up Derailed

THE NARRATIVE has moved from just the count of casualties and numbers killed. Media have gone into the lives of victims, humanizing the cases listed in police reports. Reports have also recorded the protest of church and civil society leaders, and individuals calling for an end to the...

Reporting #LeniLeaks: Fanning SocMed Speculations

THE PLOT thickens. In the last two weeks, social media personalities have triggered a barrage of anger and outrage, as they released what they claimed as proof of a grand design involving groups overseas to oust the president. #LeniLeaks gave the vice president a central role in the...

Documenting the Drug War: A Befitting Eulogy

CHEERS TO Rappler for a dramatic counter narrative to the police blotter and the information recorded to prove the success of President Duterte’s drug war. The seven-part Impunity series (November-December 2016) featured on multimedia the findings of journalist Patricia Evangelista and her production crew: Paolo Villaluna, Carlo Gabuco,...

Too Early to Crow! Real Count of Firecracker Injuries 2016

CHEERS TO the Philippine Daily Inquirer for challenging the government’s claim that the firecracker casualty rate went down by 60 percent from the previous year. Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial announced on January 1 that there were only 350 casualties since December 21, 2016. In an Inquirer report,...

Capturing the Contradiction

CHEERS TO some media organizations for their reports that noted the contradictory statements of President Rodrigo Duterte in a speech on December 7 during the Urban Poor Solidarity Week celebration. The president said he would not interfere with legal proceedings against the policemen involved in the killing of...

Examining 2016 Election Candidates’ SOCEs and SALNs

CHEERS TO the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) for another close examination of critical documents. A series of reports looked into the statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) and the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) primarily of President Rodrigo Duterte and, also, of other...

Winning against illegal drugs? Localities declaring ‘drug-free’ status

ELIMINATING ILLEGAL drugs in the country by any means necessary remains the Duterte government’s top priority. The president has taken every speech he has made a chance to express his resolve to go after those involved. Since Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, the human cost of the anti-illegal drug...